With less than a month until the middleweight showdown in Las Vegas between WBC titlist Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, everyone in the boxing world is making their picks, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr is the latest boxer to side with Canelo. Chavez Jr admitted that he was picking Canelo first and foremost because he is his Mexican countryman. Chavez Jr. is further convinced by the age factor in the fight, claiming that Canelo’s youth will be a determining factor in his victory on November 21st at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Yet, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr usually says whatever crosses his mind, which was evident when he revealed his third reason for choosing Canelo, “I don’t like too much Cotto,” Chavez Jr. stated in an interview with Fight Hub TV.
One can understand why Chavez Jr would not be a fan of Cotto, especially considering the Puerto Rico-Mexico boxing rivalry- a rivalry that his father was a part of (Chavez Sr was 5-0 vs Puerto Rican fighters throughout his career). However, Chavez had a different reason for disliking the four-division world champ.
“Because he fight no good fighters in catchweight, these things the people know who wins, [easy fights].”
Chavez Jr then went on to list fighters he believes Cotto should fight as well as fighters Cotto should stay away from in his opinion.
“He need to fight somebody like Canelo and like Lara, all good fighters. No Golovkin, no myself.” He also listed Demetrius Andrade as someone who Cotto should fight.
Shortly after, Chavez Jr was asked to give his opinion regarding statements his father made about being able to knock Mayweather out had they both fought each other in their primes and Mayweather picking opponents who were over the hill. Junior did not have much to say about Floyd and claimed it would be difficult for his father to knock Mayweather out and how he had nothing but respect for the recently retired pound for pound king.
The obvious question about Chavez’ comments are this: Why is he commenting on Cotto fighting at catch weights when he has on several occasions missed weight? In fact, Chavez Jr.’s last fight was at a catchweight of 170 that he could not even make, not to mention the opponent he was fighting was a middleweight who’d recently moved to super middleweight. The irony of the statement is impossible to ignore and is almost laughable.
The legend continues is one of the nicknames Jr. has acquired, but as of now his legend is not based on his in-ring performances. After seeing so much skill and promise from Chavez Jr during the beginning of his middleweight title reign, he now chooses to make unintelligent choices and dumbfounding statements that puzzle and disappoint the average boxing fan.
Instead of telling a future Hall of Famer in Miguel Cotto whom he should fight, maybe Chavez Jr. should find a weight class that suits his body, improve his lifestyle choices and decisions out of the ring, and become serious about his boxing career in the ring.
